Malheur National Forest changes to fire danger, IFPL and PURs

By on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories

HARNEY AND GRANT COUNTIES-Effective immediately, on the Malheur National Forest portion within Burns Interagency Fire Zone, the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will be reduced from a Level III to a level II, and Fire Danger will go from High to Moderate.

Beginning 9/11/2026, Public Use Restrictions (PUR) will change from B to PUR A. 

During Public Use Restriction A, the following acts are prohibited on all National Forest System Lands within the Malheur National Forest. 

  • Campfires: Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, cook stove; including solid fuel, charcoal briquette, gas/jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel or propane fire is prohibited. Exemptions:
    • When contained within Forest Service-constructed fire rings in designated recreation sites:

  • BLUE MOUNTAIN RANGER DISTRICT
  • Billy Fields Campground
  • Deerhorn Campground
  • Deer Creek Guard Station
  • Dixie Campground
  • Fall Mountain Lookout
  • Head O’Boulder Forest Camp
  • Lower Camp Creek Campground
  • Magone Lake Campground**
  • Middle Fork Campground
  • Murderers Creek Guard Station
  • Oregon Mine Campground
  • Parish Cabin Campground 
  • Pine Creek Horse Camp
  • Starr Campground
  • Wickiup Campground

  • EMIGRANT CREEK RANGER DISTRICT
  • Buck Spring Campground
  • Delintment Campground
  • Emigrant Campground(Closed)
  • Falls Campground
  • Idlewild Campground**
  • Joaquin Miller Horse Camp 
  • Rock Springs Camp (T.18S R.32E. Sec24)
  • Tip Top Campground
  • Yellowjacket Campground(Closed_

  • PRAIRIE CITY RANGER DISTRICT
  • Big Creek Campground
  • Crescent Campground
  • Elk Creek Campground
  • Little Crane Campground 
  • Lake Creek Youth Camp
  • Murray Campground
  • North Fork Malheur Campground
  • Short Creek Guard Station
  • Slide Creek Horse Camp
  • Strawberry Campground
  • Trout Farm Campground

  • When the cook stove, lantern or campfire is fueled solely by gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel or propane with an on/off switch and flammable vegetation is cleared a minimum of 3-feet away from open flame on all sides.
  • Smoking: Prohibited.Exemptions:
    • Except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a recreation site, while stopped in an area at least 3-feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.     
  • Internal Combustion Engines: Operating an internal combustion engine is prohibited. Exemptions:
    • Operating chainsaws is prohibited between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Chainsaw use is allowed at all other hours. A 1 PM shutdown is required with a 1-hour Fire Watch to follow. The operator is responsible for having a shovel, fire extinguisher, and/ or gallon of water readily accessible at all times. 
    • Generators must be equipped with an approved spark arrestor and used in an area that is cleared at least 10-feet in diameter of all flammable material. 
  • Welding: Operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame is prohibited. 
  • Explosives: Using explosives is prohibited. 
  • Use of vehicles off National Forest System roads: Prohibited off National Forest System trails and roads. Exemptions:
    • Parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10-feet of the roadway or minimum travel over bare mineral soil to access dispersed camping. 

Please see attached link and trailing email for more information. 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/malheur/fire/prevention

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/malheur/newsroom/releases/malheur-national-forest-reduces-ifpl

Elkhorn Media Group